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- Apple introduces iPhone3G Gift Card
With a little more than 24 hours before the official start of the 2008 holiday shopping season, Apple has made a new offer to shoppers. The iPhone 3G Gift Card provides its lucky recipient with an activated iPhone that has been tricked out with email and personalized ring tones. Plus, an Apple Store Specialist will help the new owner customize his or her home screen, pick some great apps and find their favorite songs.
You can purchase the card in any amount starting at $25US toward the cost of a new iPhone. They may be redeemed at any Apple Store in the US. Apple also notes that the iPhone 3G Gift Card can also be used for all things Mac and iPod at the Apple Online Store or any Apple Retail Store. Sweet!
[Via Steve Rubel]TUAWApple introduces iPhone3G Gift Card originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 26 Nov 2008 20:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Переслать - Throwboy Dock Icon pillows
Filed under: Humor, Cult of Mac, Odds and ends, Stocking Stuffers, Deals
We're in the middle of gift guide season right now, but here's a gift that would fit great on any Mac user's list: Throwboy has designed a set of throw pillows after some of the Dock's most famous icons, including iTunes, iPhoto, Dashboard, and the Finder. They're 100% fleece, hand-crafted, and look cuddly as all get out.
Sure, a computer icon might seem like a strange thing to squeeze, but hasn't Finder been there for you in the worst of moments before? No reason that shouldn't remain the case outside the computer as well. You can pick up a pillow (for yourself or anyone else this holiday season) for $29 each, or $149 for the whole set. They ship in about 3-6 weeks, so there's no guarantee you'll get it by Christmas, unfortunately, but as their order page says "handmade takes a while."TUAWThrowboy Dock Icon pillows originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 26 Nov 2008 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Read | Permalink | Email this | CommentsПереслать - What to get the person with everything - Holiday Gift Guide
Filed under: Accessories, Cult of Mac, Holidays
If your diamond-encrusted iPod case is wearing out, or you simply must coat your new MacBook in gold, this list is for you. Presenting the most expensive, ridiculous and sublime gifts for the Apple fan in your life.
18-karat gold iPod shuffle
It isn't enough to have a gold shuffle. How about a gold shuffle that cost you more than $10,000? Or even twice that? Well, here you go -- this coating will cost you plenty but it does come with a wooden box and a certificate.
Casa Gi Diamond Earbuds
There's an entire industry around diamond-and-gold audio headgear. Just check out this gallery over at Luxist. The Casa Gi set (from Italy, of course) wins points because I think they look like I would have seen them on "Falcon Crest," had earbuds been around in the 80's.
Beatles Collector's Box
Even though we may not see the Beatles in iTunes any time soon, you can still cram them into your iPod the old fashioned way: rip them. Yes, even this $795 set makes you put the music into iTunes yourself. It comes with 13 of the fab four's CD's, however and a 120GB iPod classic, but still... I guess you could throw in a Ripstyles offer?
The Ultimate Minimalist Desk
If you didn't already know, Steve Jobs doesn't like cords and clutter. If I bought him a gift, I'd send him this desk. In steel, definitely.
Keep reading for more diamonds, a fridge that acts as an iPhone accessory, and more.Continue reading What to get the person with everything - Holiday Gift Guide
TUAWWhat to get the person with everything - Holiday Gift Guide originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 26 Nov 2008 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Read | Permalink | Email this | CommentsПереслать - Agile offering free licenses, 15% discount
Agile Web Solutions today offered its customers a Thanksgiving present: a free copy of 1Password. Existing customers are encouraged to give up to three extra licenses to their friends by visiting Agile's website and providing their information. New customers can also benefit: If you purchase 1Password today, you get two licenses for the price of one. Agile is also offering a discount to new orders, taking 15 percent off your final total.
The promotion ends Sunday.
TUAWAgile offering free licenses, 15% discount originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 26 Nov 2008 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Read | Permalink | Email this | CommentsПереслать - UK watchdog bans 'really fast' iPhone TV ads
Filed under: Bad Apple, iPhone
The BBC reported today that a TV ad for the iPhone has been banned in the UK by the government's advertising standards watchdog group for being misleading.
The Advertising Standards Authority received 17 complaints about the ad above, which showed web pages, the Maps application, and mail attachments loading in fractions of a second. The group said that the ad "led viewers to believe that the device actually operated at or near the speeds shown," the BBC story read.
The ASA said after reviewing the complaints, "Because we understood that it did not, we concluded the ad was likely to mislead."
Apple argued that the claims in the spot were "relative rather than absolute in nature," comparing the 3G speeds to the speeds of the first-generation iPhone. Nevertheless, the ad cannot be run on UK airwaves again in its current form.
One of the complainants was a man named Roger Browning, who said in a post at The Guardian that he complained about the advertisement as retribution for a bad customer support experience he had with O2.
Apple has run afoul of the ASA before, with a claim in August that the iPhone could view "the whole Internet." Since the iPhone doesn't support Flash and Java, the agency decided the ads were misleading, and yanked them off-air.
[Via MacDailyNews.]
TUAWUK watchdog bans 'really fast' iPhone TV ads originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 26 Nov 2008 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Read | Permalink | Email this | CommentsПереслать - Chronos Software's Black Friday Sale
Filed under: Software
You know you're looking for holiday bargains, and the Mac community is responding. We've heard rumblings from Apple about Black Friday specials, now Chronos Software is checking in with a one-week sale that began on Tuesday and will go through November 30th.
Buy any of the Chronos applications for Mac, enter the coupon code "black2008" during checkout, and you'll receive 50% off of your purchase. There are nine applications to choose from:
- SOHO Organizer
- iScrapbook
- SOHO Notes
- F10 Launch Studio
- SOHO Business Cards
- iClipboard
- SOHO Labels
- SOHO Signs
- SOHO Art Pack
TUAWChronos Software's Black Friday Sale originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 26 Nov 2008 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Read | Permalink | Email this | CommentsПереслать - Google: Yeah, we did use an undocumented API. So what?
Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Freeware, Apple, Developer, iPhone, iPod touch
On last Sunday's talkcast, we all speculated on the situation behind Google's voice app using undocumented API calls on the iPhone. Either Google just went and did it themselves, or they got special permission from Apple to dive into places that most developers aren't really supposed to go. And it turns out that the former is true: Google says to CNET that, yeah, they used undocumented APIs. What are you going to do about it?
They're not using private frameworks at all, and apparently Apple isn't even part of the situation -- Google's engineers just jumped on some extra, undocumented features in the API. The danger here for most devs, apparently, is that if Apple changes something in the undocumented stuff, it'll break the app. But Google seems unconcerned -- they have the resources, apparently, to change things if needed.
As for Apple themselves, my guess is they'll do what they've been doing: stay hands-off until a smaller developer breaks something really important. If anyone is going to get special permission to bend the rules, it'll be Google, and given that Apple's API agreements are something they can choose to enforce (or not) as they see fit, Google likely has nothing to worry about.TUAWGoogle: Yeah, we did use an undocumented API. So what? originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 26 Nov 2008 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Read | Permalink | Email this | CommentsПереслать - iHangman gives you instant, classic entertainment on the go
Filed under: iPhone, App Store, iPod touch
If you're looking for a quick "pick up and play game," give iHangman a try? iHangman [iTunes link] allows you to play the timeless game of hangman right on your iPhone.
In iHangman, you pick letters from the side to make a word. If you don't get the word after a couple tries, then you complete the hangman and lose the game. However, if you guess the word, then you win. iHangman gives you plenty of options in the Settings tab -- you can change the timer, have single or multiple players, see the leader board for your iPhone, turn sounds on/off, and choose the word list categories. You have the option to choose from a myriad of word lists including: Animals, countries, sports, SAT, GRE, Science, and more.
This game includes over 36,000 words and their definitions. That's right ... definitions! When you lose or win a game, you are presented with the full word; when you shake your iPhone side-to-side, you will see the definition of the word. This is a very nice feature. Overall, iHangman is a fun game to play, and at $0.99US, it's not very expensive. You can download this game from the iTunes App Store.TUAWiHangman gives you instant, classic entertainment on the go originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 26 Nov 2008 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Read | Permalink | Email this | CommentsПереслать - Live Mesh now available for Mac OS X
Filed under: Software, MobileMe
[Editor's Note: Several comments objected to the comparison between Dropbox and Microsoft that implied Dropbox's reputation was less than ideal; we also heard directly from Dropbox founder Arash Ferdowsi on this point. The post has been edited to clarify the sense Cory intended -- while Dropbox's service is well-regarded and its backers are notable, some may feel comfortable with a more-established vendor for cloud storage. Our apologies to Dropbox and its users for the unintentional slight.]
While many Mac users use MobileMe for file synchronization, there are the a few (*raises hand*) who think it's overpriced. Therefore, I have been looking for alternatives. Dropbox is nice, but I wanted more storage, and I wanted it from areputablecompany with a longer track record. I had heard about Live Mesh, Microsoft's up and coming synchronization service so I decided to check it out.
While there are plenty of anti-Microsoft Mac users, I tend to like some of their products (i.e. Microsoft Office). Their Live Mesh service just recently came to the Mac platform, and is well built. Once you create/sign-in with your Windows Live ID, you can add new devices for file synchronization, including Macs and PCs (phone support coming soon). To add a Mac to your Mesh account, you'll need to download a small application. This menu bar application will upload your specified folders to Mesh, and keep them in sync.
Two things about the Live Mesh service that I really like are: (1) You have the ability to sync up to 5 GBs of data. (2) You can access your files anywhere with the Mesh.com website. However, you'll be presented with a Windows Vista theme, which can be unfamiliar for some Mac users. Overall, I have really liked using this service, but there are a couple of complaints. While the desktop Mesh client is a menu bar application, the Dock icon remians visible -- I found this annoying. Also, the web service is somewhat buggy, and I had problems deleting some older files. However, if you're looking for a good, cheap solution to MobileMe file synchronization, then you might want to give Mesh a try.TUAWLive Mesh now available for Mac OS X originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 26 Nov 2008 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Read | Permalink | Email this | CommentsПереслать - Apple's small business share continues to grow
Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Hardware
I seem to be seeing Macs in small business offices with increasing frequency these days. My dentist uses all Macs, as does the wine shop in town, the photo developing shop, the kennel that watches our dog when we're away and the woman who sells craft supplies. Just a few years ago I'd be shocked to see an iMac running point of sale software. Today, it's much more common.
Earlier this week, Needham Co. analyst Charlie Wolf confirmed my suspicions. Specifically, Apple sold 188,000 Macs to small businesses in the September quarter of this year. Compare that to the 61,000 Macs sold to the same group over the summer.
The boost came just as residential sales cooled, which was fortunate for Apple. Of course, internet security and the ability to run the Windows software that these companies depend on are real selling points for many business owners.
[Via AppleInsider]TUAWApple's small business share continues to grow originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 26 Nov 2008 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Read | Permalink | Email this | CommentsПереслать - Sonnet FireWire dongle gives your MacBook Pro the gift of FW400
Filed under: Macbook Pro
When Steve Jobs announced the new MacBook Pros, Apple received a lot of criticism for excluding a FireWire 400 port, despite the addition of FireWire 800. While most people were sitting around and griping, one company actually did something to reconcile the situation.
Sonnet has created a dongle that allows you to use FireWire 400 devices in your MacBook Pro's FireWire 800 port. The Sonnet Simply Fast dongle works with standard 6-pin male FW400 cables.
This dongle can be bought from the Sonnet online store, or from other retailers (i.e. Amazon) for around $14.24US. You can visit the Sonnet website for more information about the FireWire adapter. If you are looking for solutions to this FW 400/800 mystery then you might also want to check out FireWire 800 to 400 cables which are very plentiful, and might be slightly cheaper.TUAWSonnet FireWire dongle gives your MacBook Pro the gift of FW400 originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 26 Nov 2008 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Read | Permalink | Email this | CommentsПереслать - First Look: Cronk for iPhone / iPod touch
Filed under: Software, iPhone, App Store, iPod touch, First Look
Looking for a game to keep you occupied while Aunt Fern tells you about all of her operations over Thanksgiving dinner? If you like Zuma from Popcap Games, take a peek at Cronk for iPhone and iPod touch (click opens iTunes).
This game from Cronk Games, Inc. features a train of boulders of different colors moving around a path. Your job as Cronk the Caveman is to toss boulders of the same color to get three or more boulders of the same color in a row. When you do this, those boulders disappear. If you can eliminate all of the boulders in a given path and save Cronk's village, you gain points and move to a higher level of play.
Cronk has a fun soundtrack and good sound effects, and occasional earthquakes make it even more difficult for Cronk to toss his boulder into the right spot in the "rockslide".
The game is on sale for $4.99 for a limited time, down from the usual price of $7.99. If I were to make a recommendation to the developers, it would be to drop Cronk's price to $2.99 or less -- that's where another Zuma clone, BlackBeard's Assault, sits price-wise. Check out the gallery for a few more action shots.
TUAWFirst Look: Cronk for iPhone / iPod touch originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 26 Nov 2008 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Read | Permalink | Email this | CommentsПереслать - Aurora Feint II: The Arena adds asynchronous multiplayer, in-game messaging
Filed under: Gaming, Software, Freeware, iPhone, iPod touch
Our good friends at Massively got an opportunity that turned us green with envy -- they got to sit down with the devs of Aurora Feint, one of our favorite iPhone games, and see how its fulfilling the "MMO" promise they've been offering up since it first debuted on the App Store. The new game is called Aurora Feint II: The Arena, and while it doesn't exactly offer real-time MMO gameplay, it does let players compete with ghosts -- the game will record what you or your friend plays, and then offer up that re-play as an opponent. There's also a new "Tavern" feature which will let players leave messages to each other from right in the game.
And the goals don't stop there -- they're working on a third version of the game, which will eventually feature an offline MMO mode, as well as a very, very deep experience for a fairly casual iPhone game. "Warcraft on the iPhone" -- it's not a phrase I'd use to describe Aurora Feint yet, but it's one the creators will happily use for the future.
The early MMO features are in the App Store right now -- the app will normally be priced at $9.99, but it's currently in there for $7.99 during the holidays (the free, non-MMO version is still there as well). Pretty amazing -- this was one of the games that jumped to the forefront in terms of presentation and quality right when the App Store opened, and it doesn't look like the creators have any plans to slow it down.
TUAWAurora Feint II: The Arena adds asynchronous multiplayer, in-game messaging originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 26 Nov 2008 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Read | Permalink | Email this | CommentsПереслать - 'I got more ports than a wine store do.'
For your Wednesday morning amusement, the Sniper Twins have put together this hilarious video promotion for Seagate: a hip-hop office drama, replete with Mac desktops, laptops and servers.
This definitely falls in the "so bad it's good" category, so if you have a low tolerance for office-themed irony, you might want to give it a pass.
[Via Swissmiss.]
TUAW'I got more ports than a wine store do.' originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 26 Nov 2008 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Read | Permalink | Email this | CommentsПереслать - Transmit 3.6.7 is available
Filed under: Software, Internet, Internet Tools
Earlier this week, one of the applications that I use every day, Panic's Transmit, was updated to version 3.6.7. Since the previous version was 3.6.6, this seems like a minor update, but it does bring some welcome bug fixes, including
- Re-worked preview drawer to avoids possible transfer stalls
- Fixed S3 uploads with files greater than 2 GB
- Fixed a problem in which files may be deleted when moving them into a subfolder
- Improved S3 copied URLs when connecting to the EU S3 server
I also appreciate the tight integration with another Panic product, Coda. Simply right-click on a html or PHP file, for instance, and select "Edit with Coda."
Finally, the UI is so friendly and Mac-like that even a person who has never used an FTP app before will feel comfortable.
Thanks, Robert!TUAWTransmit 3.6.7 is available originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 26 Nov 2008 07:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Read | Permalink | Email this | CommentsПереслать - Apple releases QuickTime 7.5.7, fixes HDCP issues
Filed under: Multimedia, Software Update, Macbook Pro, MacBook
Apple just updated QuickTime to version 7.5.7. This update is big news for users of the MacBook and MacBook Pro unibody computers because it fixes the problem where some users were unable to play protected movie files from iTunes on external displays. This is a problem that TUAW noted last week.
Here's what Software Update has to say about this update: This update is recommended for owners of MacBook, MacBook Air, and MacBook Pro with Mini DisplayPort. The update addresses an issue where some standard definition purchases from the iTunes Store do not play on some external displays.
We're sure that this update will make many MacBook and MacBook Pro users happy when it comes to video playback on external displays. You can download this update by opening Software Update (Apple menu > Software Update), or by visiting the Apple Support Download Website. Continue reading to see a screenshot of Software Update.
Update: Please note that this update does not allow the playback of HD (High-Definition) content on external displays, you will only be able to view SD (Standard-Definition) content.
Thanks to everyone who sent this in!Continue reading Apple releases QuickTime 7.5.7, fixes HDCP issues
TUAWApple releases QuickTime 7.5.7, fixes HDCP issues originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 25 Nov 2008 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Read | Permalink | Email this | CommentsПереслать - TiVo launches mobile site
Filed under: Multimedia, Internet, Internet Tools
Earlier this week, TiVo announced their new mobile site, m.tivo.com, and it's OK. Definitely not the solution I've been wanting from TiVo, but good at what it does.
I tested it out on my iPhone and was able to find and schedule a recording easily. In fact, the process should be very familiar to anyone who has used TiVo's online scheduling service. You can also browse popular shows, recommendations based on your preferences and browse the help section. The whole thing was put together by Mobui Corporation.
TiVo's lackluster Mac support has been a thorn in our side for years. Heck, you've got spend $80US on Toast 9 Titanium to transfer shows from your TiVo to your Mac (something Windows users can do for free). While m.tivo.com is convenient and easy to use, it still seems like a consolation prize.
Thanks, Anne!TUAWTiVo launches mobile site originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 25 Nov 2008 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Read | Permalink | Email this | CommentsПереслать - Gift Guide for the new parent
Filed under: Features, Holidays
From baby monitors to daily organizers, finding the right gift for the Mac-wielding new parent isn't as easy as it sounds. They're just so busy with all that "good parenting" nonsense. Here are plenty of ideas at a variety of price points that should make any parent's job a little more pleasant.
iPhone/iPod touch apps
I mentioned this before, but it's worth repeating. Baby Monitor ($4.99US) by CodeGoo calls you when Jr. starts to fuss. Simply launch Baby Monitor and put it in his bedroom. When he starts to cry, Baby Monitor will call a pre-determined phone number, like your home's land line. It's not a substitute for a genuine baby monitor, but certainly useful for when you forget to bring the real deal to Grandma's house.
When my son was new, we purchased a white noise machine for his bedroom. It produces five sounds, including stream, car, heartbeat, music and white noise, and cost thirty dollars.
For $0.99US, Ambiance [iTunes link] plays more than fifty sounds. You can combine sounds to create new ones and adjust settings like duration, fade out and a lot more. Updates of the app always include new sounds, and you've got the option to delete sounds you dislike to save room.
Grocery IQ ($0.99US) [iTunes link] is an application I didn't anticipate using. I'm a pen-and-paper guy (read: old geezer), and dislike typing on the phone for extended periods. It's not the iPhone's fault, the keyboard is great. I'm just quicker with a pen.
Despite this, Grocery IQ has earned a spot on my home screen. Not only is creating a list as easy as a click, you can save frequently-purchased items and even a standard list. Plus, it's a lot easier to de-select an item you've tossed into the cart than cross it off of your paper list after Jr. has tossed your pen.
I've mentioned iChalky ($0.99) [iTunes link] before, too, but both my 3-year-old and my 5-year-old love it. Poor Chalky is a physicis-aware stick figure who is subject to your kid's whims. Shake him, flip him, hang him from a push pin. It's just the ticket for avoiding a full meltdown in the middle of the post office.
Read on for hardware, software and accessory recommendations!Continue reading Gift Guide for the new parent
TUAWGift Guide for the new parent originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 25 Nov 2008 14:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Read | Permalink | Email this | CommentsПереслать - Black Friday: Best Buy discounting up to $150 off, Apple retail will match prices
AppleInsider, MediaBistro and more are all pointing to some sweet Best Buy discounts on Apple products for Black Friday weekend that include laptop and desktop computers. Sale prices are good online and in-store.Best Buy apparently stocked up on inventory to support the event. Apple employees will also be staffing Best Buy locations to push sales. The four-day sale extends from Sunday until Wednesday. (Thanks, Michel.)
Also of note: Apple retail stores will match other authorized retailers' advertised prices. According to ifoAppleStore, if you supply proof of the competitor's pricing (like Best Buy's circular), Apple retail employees have the authority to approve a discount matching that price.
If that weren't enough, as Cory mentioned earlier, Apple will also be having its own online Black Friday promotion.
After the jump, discounts ahoy!
Continue reading Black Friday: Best Buy discounting up to $150 off, Apple retail will match prices
TUAWBlack Friday: Best Buy discounting up to $150 off, Apple retail will match prices originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 25 Nov 2008 13:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Read | Permalink | Email this | CommentsПереслать - A Holiday Gift Guide for the frequent traveler
Filed under: Accessories, Peripherals, Features, Holidays
If the favorite people on your holiday gift list spend more time in hotels and airports than they do hanging out with you, then we can help. This guide to gifts for the frequent traveler is sure to put a smile on the face of your friends or loved ones wherever their travels may take them in 2009.
Power on the go
With rare exceptions, it's almost impossible to find an airport or hotel room with enough power outlets for all of your electronic gadgets. Rather than challenging someone to a duel with presentation laser pointers to see who gets to use the one available airport outlet, I've come up with a more peaceful solution -- carrying a compact multiple outlet with me.
Belkin's Mini Surge Protector with USB Charger (at right, above) can handle three AC and two USB devices simultaneously. It's tiny and light, and fits just in just about any laptop case.
My personal favorite is the Monster Cable Outlets To Go Power Strip (below), which fits six widely-spaced grounded AC outlets in a very flat 8.5" x 2.25" x 1.8" box. This one works very well with those obnoxious adapters that cover two or three outlets by themselves, and is perfect for sharing a single power outlet with five total strangers. If more people carried these in their laptop cases, there would be world peace...at least in airports. It's also available in even more compact 3 and 4 outlet models.
- Belkin Mini Surge Protector with USB Charger: $24.99
- Monster Cable Outlets To Go Power Strip -- 6 outlet: $29.95
More below...
Continue reading A Holiday Gift Guide for the frequent traveler
TUAWA Holiday Gift Guide for the frequent traveler originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 25 Nov 2008 12:48:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Read | Permalink | Email this | CommentsПереслать - Beatles-on-iTunes talks 'stalled' says Paul
Filed under: iTS, Rumors, Odds and ends
Talks between Apple, Inc., Apple Corps, and EMI to bring the Beatles catalogue to the iTunes Store have "stalled," according to a statement by Paul McCartney to the Associated Press. McCartney said, "The last word I got back was it's stalled at the whole moment, the whole process." He told the BBC that "heavy negotiations" were in progress with EMI, who said they were "working hard to secure agreement with Apple Corps."
My ill-informed, Captain Obvious guess? Someone's holding out for more money. The AP oddly suggested that the holdup is related to a trademark dispute between Apple Corps and Apple, Inc. which was settled in court last year.
McCartney continued, "I really hope it will happen because I think it should."
[Via Cult of Mac.]
TUAWBeatles-on-iTunes talks 'stalled' says Paul originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 25 Nov 2008 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Read | Permalink | Email this | CommentsПереслать - Apple posts "black friday" teaser, doesn't divulge deals
Filed under: Retail, Apple, Holidays
Today, visitors to Apple's online store were greeted with an interesting teaser. "Lots of gifts, 1 day not to miss," Apple boasts on their page regarding the after-Thanksgiving sale. According to the details Apple posted, they will not be revealing their deals until Black Friday, so it looks like we'll have to wait just a little longer. Apple posted the following information regarding the sale:_2008_cb1234.jpg)
Come back to the Apple Online Store the day after Thanksgiving for a special one-day-only holiday shopping event. You'll find dozens of great iPod, iPhone, and Mac gift ideas.
Mark your calendars. And start your research now by browsing the Apple Online Store to find iPod, iPhone, and Mac gifts for everyone on your list.
So, if you're looking to buy an Apple product, it would probably be wise to wait.
Thanks to everyone who sent this in!TUAWApple posts "black friday" teaser, doesn't divulge deals originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 25 Nov 2008 11:16:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Read | Permalink | Email this | CommentsПереслать - Apple's new "green" notebook ad
Filed under: Apple Corporate, Apple, Macbook Pro, MacBook
Apple aired a new television ad here in the US earlier tonight. It touts the MacBook's low power consumption, recyclable enclosure and lack of some of the toxins present in other computers.
Activist group Greenpeace has been pressuring Apple to adopt more environmentally-friendly production methods and materials over the last couple of years, and last month responded favorably to Apple's efforts to go green.
Additionally, Apple has posted a page to their website describing not only their efforts toward environmental responsibility with the MacBook, but their overall efforts as a company. At the risk of sounding like a tree-hugging hippie, let me say, well done Apple!TUAWApple's new "green" notebook ad originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 25 Nov 2008 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Read | Permalink | Email this | CommentsПереслать - Gifts for the beginning developer
Filed under: Developer, Holidays
Whether you've just started writing your first lines of code or you've just moved over to the Mac/iPhone platform as a developer, this guide is sure to please.
Books
Cocoa Programming in Mac OS X ($31.49 on Amazon)
There are really two excellent books that should be on every Mac developer's bookshelf. First is a book by the magnificent Aaron Hillegass. Aaron not only teaches at the Big Nerd Ranch, but he also wrote a Cocoa (Objective-C) programming book that some would consider to be the Bible of Cocoa development; he has also been programming for over 18 years. His book, Cocoa Programming for Mac OS X is an excellent place to start for anyone looking to develop on the Mac; he covers topics from the history of Cocoa, to classes, to creating custom views -- it truly is all there.
iPhone Developer's Cookbook ($26.39 on Amazon)
Written by former TUAW Blogger, Erica Sadun, this book helps anyone with previous Cocoa programming experience begin to program on the iPhone. This isn't the standard programming book in which the author tries to teach you something through instruction. Rather, Erica has designed this book so the reader can learn through examples. If you have been waiting to jump on the theoretical iPhone application bandwagon, then this book can definitely help you master iPhone development.
Hardware
It doesn't take a developer to want Santa to bring hardware, but most of the time being a developer means you need certain hardware. One such piece of hardware is external hard drives. Who couldn't use a little extra storage now and then? I personally recommend the Western Digital MyBook hard drives for their cost and storage options.
Always being able to view your code is a must, therefore most developer's like to code on a huge display. There's truly nothing bigger than the Apple 30" Cinema Display; however, if you're pressed for money, you can find Dell monitors with bigger screens for a lot less dough.
Apple Developer Memberships
If you are not already a member of the Apple Developer Program, then you really should consider it. While it can be a little expensive, the experience that you can get out of it might just be worth the cost. They offer memberships for online, students, select, and premier.
The online and student memberships are basically the same, with the exception of the price. The online version is free and offers limited access to Apple's developer tools. The student membership costs $99 and includes a hardware discount.
The select membership gives you a ton of resources including: joining in Apple's software seeding program (meaning you'll get a copy of Apple's pre-release software like Snow Leopard), code-level technical support, coding head starts, ADC videos on iTunes, and the opportunity to attend the compatibility labs. However, the select membership costs $499 (US) per year.
Stocking Stuffers That Programmers Will Love.
- If you've been looking for geeky clothing, then look no further than the wonderfully designed T-Shirts and other clothing from ThinkGeek.
- It's no secret that programmers (and geeks alike) love caffeine, therefore most programmers would love to just have a gift card or bag of coffee from Starbucks or other coffee company. Also, a pack of Mountain Dew might also work just as well.
- Just because we're programmers doesn't mean that we can't rock out ... just like anyone else, we would gladly accept iTunes Gift Cards.
TUAWGifts for the beginning developer originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 25 Nov 2008 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsПереслать - If you've been looking for geeky clothing, then look no further than the wonderfully designed T-Shirts and other clothing from ThinkGeek.
- The Blackberry Storm - An iPhone 'Killer'?
Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, iPhone
Like many of you who read TUAW, I use an iPhone 3G as my day-to-day cell phone, mobile email and SMS device and to watch videos, listen to music and generally be entertained while waiting at the doctor's office, in line for a movie or when I need to kill some time. As many of you also know, there's another company out there besides Apple who's had a pretty tight hold on the "smart" phone market until recently, especially when it comes to mobile email and generally taking care of business as a professional on-the-go. That company, of course, is RIM and their device is the Blackberry.
As of last Friday, RIM has released a new Blackberry they consider a potential "iPhone Killer" or, at the very least, a serious competitor for the iPhone -- the Blackberry Storm. As a Blackberry user prior to switching to the iPhone, I was of course very interested in seeing if the Storm would, in fact, offer any sort of competition to the iPhone. So, to find out, I got a Storm last Friday and spent the weekend using it alongside my iPhone to see how both devices compare when performing many of the tasks I use on a daily basis.
What follows is by no means scientific, nor is it an in-depth review of the Storm. I'll leave that to Engadget. These are just my observations and impressions as an iPhone and Mac user when also using a Storm to accomplish the same tasks.Continue reading The Blackberry Storm - An iPhone 'Killer'?
TUAWThe Blackberry Storm - An iPhone 'Killer'? originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 25 Nov 2008 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Read | Permalink | Email this | CommentsПереслать - New Rolando trailer says release in December
Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Gaming, Software, iPhone
Last we heard from Rolando, perhaps the iPhone game we're most excited to play, ng:moco had announced that they were still aiming for a release date of "Holiday 2008." And now it's looking like that holiday is Christmas rather than Thanksgiving, because over on their site, they've put up a new video for the game, and they're now saying there will be a "December" release (strangely enough, Touch Arcade's URL for the story says "December 12th" at the time I write this, but that could have been just an error on their side).
Oh well. At least we've got the new trailer, which shows off some more of the way gameplay works, including the 2D physics, the great colors and art, and the use of the touchscreen to not only control characters, but sometimes rearrange and manipulate the game world.
Rolando continues to look impressive (rumor has it that it'll come with a $9.99 price tag, but hopefully we'll get a demo to try out first). We've waited months for the game already, so a few weeks probably won't be so bad, right?
[via Touch Arcade]TUAWNew Rolando trailer says release in December originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 25 Nov 2008 07:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Read | Permalink | Email this | CommentsПереслать - First Look: Guitar Rock Tour for iPhone
Filed under: iPhone, App Store
Do you like to rock out with Guitar Hero or Rock Band? If you do, then you'll no doubt like Guitar Rock Tour [iTunes link] for the iPhone. The Guitar Rock Tour experience is similar to that of Guitar Hero, but portable. Unlike Tap Tap Revenge, Guitar Rock Tour gives you 17 licensed songs, including Rock You Like a Hurricane, Beat It, Smoke on the Water, and more.
The nice thing about this game is that you can play either the lead guitar or the drums. There are three difficulty levels for Guitar Rock Tour: Easy, Medium, and Hard. In addition, there is a quick play mode and tour mode. In quick play, you can play any song that you want, using any difficultly level -- assuming you've unlocked the songs.
In tour mode, you go around to different cities playing songs, earning points, and unlocking more songs. When you start the tour mode, you actually sign a contract for the band -- I thought this part was cool. The game play is identical to that of Guitar Hero or RockBand. You simply tap the notes that appear on the screen to make the music play. If you miss a note, then you lose points; if you get a note right, you gain points.
Overall, Guitar Rock Tour is a lot of fun and has great graphics -- I was surprised at how good and fluid the animations were. I experienced a lot of crashes, though this seemed to have been fixed with a reboot of the iPhone. I also found that sometimes the notes were not timed exactly right. This can be distracting, especially when you just want to play the song. If you are interested in Guitar Rock Tour, it is available from the App Store for $7.99 (US).TUAWFirst Look: Guitar Rock Tour for iPhone originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Mon, 24 Nov 2008 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Read | Permalink | Email this | CommentsПереслать - First Look: Got Your BAC for iPhone/iPod touch
Filed under: iPhone, App Store, iPod touch, ipod shuffle
If you frequent the bar, or just like to have the occasional drink, then a new iPhone application has Got Your Back. As a matter of fact, that is the name of the application; except it is spelled BAC (as in Blood-Alcohol Concentration). With this application you will know exactly when you should call a taxi.
When you first launch the application, you'll enter some personal information, like age, weight, and gender, so the application can calculate your BAC correctly. The main display shows four drinks on a table. You can change the type of beverage by double-tapping and selecting a different one -- the icon will also change. Each time you drink a beverage, you drag the icon off the table and onto the screen. The BAC, Carbs, Calories, and number of drinks will be updated in the top-left corner of the screen. As you add drinks, these numbers will increase. The red line across the screen indicates the legal limit -- when you're above this line, a new button will appear called "call a taxi." When tapped, this button will launch the Maps app and search for taxis.
I love subtle UI features, and this application definitely has some: from the icon sets for beverages, to the sloshing liquid when you tilt the iPhone. The application is really great, and I would love to see the developer create a caffeine calculator that does the same thing. I would like to see the ability to input a number for a designated driver, that way you don't have to fumble through your contacts or call a taxi. Got Your BAC is available from the App Store for $2.99 (US). And, remember, the best thing to do is to not drink and drive.TUAWFirst Look: Got Your BAC for iPhone/iPod touch originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Mon, 24 Nov 2008 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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